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THE VICIOUS CIRCLE - THE WOMAN IN BROWN (1948)

Now after listening to all the evidence brought before me today, I find the following 77 minute movie made in 1948, guilty, as charged. For its penance I will send it back in time to be Directed by: W. Lee Wilder; whilst Starring: Conrad Nagel, Fritz Kortner, with Reinhold Schünzel. Case dismissed.

According to those numerous testimonies presented by the
defense, earlier in the day, my client, Joseph Schwartz (Fritz Kortner), is nothing more than a cold
blooded murderer who killed a poor defenseless girl in his own family farmhouse.

But let's face it, your honor -- esteemed members of the
jury -- where's the evidence to corroborate this claim? No mutilated body has
been discovered yet. My client has no clear motives for wanting to commit this
crime! Plus on top of that, let's not forget that the unscrupulous property
developer, Baron Arady (Reinhold Schünzel), would like to see Joseph vacate his
land for reasons of his own.

So please good people of the court, I beseech you to look
favorably upon the accused. He's a nice man. He's a decent man. And despite whatever
his son Joseph once claimed, I'm nigh on positive that's why what next transpires all goes
'EEEEEKKKKK!', when a bailiff suddenly screams at me, 'I beg your pardon, Karl
Nemesch (Conrad Nagel). But a couple of local boys have just found a dead body
floating in the swamp'. As a mother is mentally abused - two doctors get very
confused - a prosecutor shows his real face - and at the end of the day, don't worry
folks, a legal ace is on the case.

THE REVIEW:

If you ever want to watch an amazing black and white
court-room drama chock full of suspense, intrigue, plus downtrodden Hungarian
women who wear those tatty looking prayer shawls, then I would highly encourage
you to clap your eyes on 'The Vicious Circle'.

Well, from my perspective, dear reader, this is one of those
frustrating films that'll keep you hooked like a fish because of the manner in
which it was told. It begins with a nice little introductory sequence where you
see some poor schmuck dying in his bed. It then leads into another slightly
longer sequence where the schmuck's friend -- who will pop-up from time to time -- explain to those around him the schmuck's own origins. And finally --
bang -- we're presented with the main brunt of the tale in a much longer flash-back
court-room sequence. A sequence in which an esteemed defender of the peace
outsmarts, out-manoeuvres, and basically out-thinks everyone around him.

Granted, those who are around him don't seem very bright to
begin with. And apart from that evil looking Baron -- plus that weasel-faced prosecutor
-- by in large most of the supporting cast appear as if they've stepped off of
boat arriving from Kazakhstan.
In a good way of course! Because this is a period movie set within a period
movie.

Now something else about this film I want to mention is how
Conrad Nagel -- who plays the esteemed defender in question -- somehow manages
to present himself as if he were some sort of patriarchal figure. Honestly,
folks. Not since watching Gregory Peck in 'To Kill a Mockingbird' have I
applauded a lawyer's performance so much! It was as though Conrad made me trust
him by what he said, how he said it, as well as the way he held himself as well.

Also, despite how some of the supporting players came
across, more or less most of them really supported this story-line in both plot
and pathos. In some cases I'd go so far as to say they actually added some form
of believability to these proceedings. A believability -- I might add -- that
was there in 'story terms' from the get go.

Anyway. By now I'm sure you know what I felt about this
great-great movie. So how about you now sit back, relax, and check out the
following filmic-facts. (1) 'W. Lee Wilder Productions' first screened this
drama in New York, New York,
on the exact same day the American cartoonist, Garry Trudeau, was born. It was
on the 21st of July, 1948.
(2) Even though this project was originally entitled 'Shadows of Fire', during
pre-production it was given the name 'The Circle', and for television it was
re-titled, 'The Woman in Brown'. (3) This film was loosely based on a play
devised by Heinz Herald and Geza Herczeg, called, 'The Burning Bush'. (4) Wilhelm
Lee Wilder, who directed and produced this picture, is also the brother of the
famous film director, Billy Wilder, plus the father of the not-so-famous
writer, Myles Wilder. (5) From 1932 to 1933 the nice chap who played Karl in
this flick, Conrad Nagel, became 'President of the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences'
Association. (6) One of the writers who adapted this adventure for the silver
screen, Guy Endore, became a blacklisted Oscar-nominated screenwriter during
the HUAC trials. (7) If you look very closely at those courtroom scenes you
might be able to spot the character actor, Frank Cady, who starred in such TV
comedies as 'The Beverly Hillbillies', 'Petticoat Junction', and 'Green Acres'.
(8) After this escapade thumped its final gavel, Conrad Nagel starred in an
episode of 'Robert Montgomery Presents'; Fritz Kortner starred in the drama, 'Der
Ruf'; and Reinhold Schünzel starred in the TV series, 'Actors Studio'.

Overall I'd say 'The Vicious Circle' was one hell of a great
film to sit down and watch. The story was a suspenseful one by nature. The
actors put on one hell of a show, despite some of them looking like beaten-up
refugees. And as push comes to shove, what's not to like about a movie showing
some justice for an innocent man?

Nuff said.

THE RATING: A

THE VICIOUS CIRCLE - THE WOMAN IN BROWN (1948)
Reviewed by David Lee Andrews
on
August 13, 2014
Rating: 5